This document discusses biodiesel use, handling, and fuel quality. It addresses questions farmers may have about using biodiesel in diesel engines. The key points are: 1) Biodiesel can be substituted for petroleum diesel in standard diesel engines, but has different chemical properties requiring different use and handling. 2) Issues that may arise include filter clogging from biodiesel's solvent properties, reduced power from lower energy content, and cold weather performance issues. 3) Proper blending, storage, and maintenance can help avoid potential problems and allow farmers to benefit from biodiesel's advantages like being renewable and reducing emissions.

1. Biodiesel Use, Handling,
and Fuel Quality
A Publication of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service • 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org
By Andrew Pressman This publication addresses questions that farmers and ranchers may have about using biodiesel in diesel
and Mike Morris engines. Biodiesel can be substituted for petroleum-based diesel fuel in virtually any standard unmodi-
NCAT Energy fied diesel engine. However, biodiesel has chemical properties that require somewhat different use and
Specialists handling. While most biodiesel users experience few if any problems, consumers can take precautions
September 2007 to avoid potential problems associated with poor quality fuel.
© 2007 NCAT
Contents
Introduction .................... 1
Biodiesel, Ethanol,
Vegetable Oil: What’s
the Difference? ............... 2
Blending and
Storage .............................. 3
Issues and Concerns ..... 4
Photos: Vern Grubinger
ASTM Standards ............. 6
The BQ-9000
Program ............................. 7
Warranty Issues .............. 8
Fuel Quality Testing ..... 9
Conclusion ....................... 9
References ...................... 10
Introduction • It functions as an excellent fuel
lubricant and performs similarly
Biodiesel is becoming widely available in to low-sulfur diesel with regards to
most parts of the U.S. and can be substi- power, torque, and fuel consumption.
tuted for petroleum-based diesel fuel (“pet-
rodiesel”) in virtually any standard unmod- • It can greatly reduce carbon emissions.
ified diesel engine. Biodiesel offers many For discussion of the environmental advan-
Funding for the development
advantages over petroleum-based diesel: tages of biodiesel, see the ATTRA publica-
of this publication was provided tion Biodiesel: the Sustainability Dimensions.
by the USDA Risk Management • It is made from domestically
Agency.
produced and renewable agricul- To find retail biodiesel distributors in your
tural products, mainly vegetable oil area, use NCAT’s Farm Energy Search Tool,
or animal fat. www.attra.ncat.org/farmenergysearchtool.
ATTRA—National Sustainable Most biodiesel users pour it in the tank and
Agriculture Information Ser- • It is essentially non-toxic and bio-
vice is managed by the National
degradable. experience few if any problems. Nonethe-
Center for Appropriate Technol-
ogy (NCAT) and is funded under
less, biodiesel has chemical properties that
a grant from the United States • It has a high flash point (over 300ºF) can cause difficulties. For example:
Department of Agriculture’s
and is difficult to light on fi re with
Rural Business- Cooperative • Biodiesel’s detergent or solvent
Service. Visit the NCAT Web site a match.
(www.ncat.org/agri. properties can clog your fuel fi lter
html) for more informa-
tion on our sustainable
• It reduces emissions of many toxic as it cleans carbon deposits from
agriculture projects. air pollutants. your engine.

2. • Compared to petrodiesel, biodie- any plant oil or animal fat. Making biodie-
sel has somewhat worse cold-flow sel is a chemical process. During this chem-
properties. ical reaction, a thick gooey substance, glyc-
• Biodiesel degrades rubber and cer- erin, is released from the oil molecules and
tain other materials, making it incom- replaced with a comparatively thin and light
patible with some fuel lines, rubber alcohol, usually methanol. For an expla-
gaskets, and other engine parts. nation of how to make biodiesel, see the
This article offers suggestions to help farm- ATTRA publication Biodiesel: a Primer.
ers and other consumers get the benefits of Biodiesel is also very different from raw or
biodiesel while avoiding performance and “straight” vegetable oil (SVO). Almost any
equipment problems. vegetable oil will combust, to one degree or
another, in a diesel engine. So it’s possible
Caution: If you are making your own fuel, to run most diesel engines on SVO. But this
using and storing large quantities of biodiesel, is a somewhat risky process, mainly since
or selling fuel commercially, you will need to raw vegetable oil is too thick and viscous to
take many safety, legal, and quality-related
precautions beyond the ones described here.
run well in diesel engines.
Biodiesel will perform well in almost any
standard diesel engine without modifica-
Biodiesel, Ethanol, Vegetable tions. On the other hand, to use SVO you
Oil: What’s the Difference? will need to modify your engine. Conver-
sion kits are readily available for $300 to
Biodiesel is a very different substance from
$1,500.(1) Generally, conversion means
ethanol. Ethanol (or grain alcohol), the
installing a separate fuel tank, heater, and
Photo: www.biodieselcommunity.org
familiar alcohol found in alcoholic bever-
fuel line, along with various switches and
ages, is commonly blended with gasoline
controls. The idea is to thin the oil by heat-
(not diesel fuel) and is made by fermenting
ing it, while taking precautions to keep cold,
grains or other plants that contain sugar.
gooey vegetable oil out of your engine. You
Fermentation is a biological process accom-
start and run the engine on standard diesel
plished by yeasts and bacteria.
fuel or biodiesel. Once the engine is warm
Biodiesel is essentially permanently thinned and you’ve pre-heated the vegetable oil—
plant or animal-based oil, with a viscosity stored in a separate tank—you can switch to
approximating that of standard #2 diesel SVO. Several minutes before turning off the
fuel. Biodiesel can be made from virtually engine, you switch back to standard diesel
fuel or biodiesel, clearing all the SVO out of
your engine and fuel lines.
The U.S. Department of Energy, among
many other organizations, cautions that
SVO can reduce engine life and should not
be considered a fuel for long-term use.(2)
The use of SVO has been shown to cause
piston ring sticking, injector and combus-
tion chamber deposits, fuel system deposits,
reduced power, reduced fuel economy, and
increased exhaust emissions. Any of these
Photo: Vern Grubinger
conditions can reduce engine life, increase
maintenance costs, or cause engine failure.
Modern diesel engines are also equipped
with catalytic converters, or fi lter traps, that
are not designed to handle SVO.
Page 2 ATTRA Biodiesel Use, Handling, and Fuel Quality

3. Performance problems don’t necessarily You should avoid adding biodiesel to cold
happen quickly. Certain engines seem to petrodiesel, since this may cause crystals
tolerate SVO better than others, and some to form. To prevent this from happening,
vehicles run trouble-free for years. On the you can blend biodiesel with kerosene (also
other hand, many SVO users succeed ini- called #1 diesel fuel) in a 50/50 mix before
tially, and are lulled into a false sense of adding it to cold diesel fuel.(5) If crystals
security, only to run into serious problems have already formed, the fuel will have to
later.(3) be heated until they dissolve.
Despite the very real risk of engine dam-
age, SVO has certain advantages that may Biodiesel Storage
make it worth considering for some farm- Biodiesel can be stored in standard petroleum
ing situations and equipment, especially in diesel storage tanks with some precautions:
older engines. Using SVO is in some ways • Tanks that have previously been
simpler than making your own biodiesel. used to store diesel fuel should be
Making biodiesel generally requires you cleaned before use. As noted below,
to use methanol, a toxic chemical, and to biodiesel is an excellent solvent and
dispose of glycerin, a waste product. By will loosen deposits left by standard
contrast, SVO is generally only filtered diesel fuel. Tanks should also be
before use, and there are few if any waste free of water, since this encourages
products to deal with. bacterial growth.
• Tanks may be made of aluminum,
Biodiesel Blends and steel, Teflon, or fluorinated poly-
Blending ethylene or polypropylene. Fiber-
glass is sometimes used, but should
Biodiesel in its pure (100 percent) form is
be approached with caution since
known as neat biodiesel or B100. It can be
some resins are not compatible with
readily blended with petroleum diesel in
biodiesel.(4)
any proportion. A B20 blend, for example,
is 20 percent by volume biodiesel and 80
percent petrodiesel.
Different blends serve different purposes.
Small amounts of biodiesel (B1-B2) add
Photos: Vern Grubinger
lubrication to low-sulfur fuels. Blends in the
B20 to B50 range provide significant envi-
ronmental benefits with a low increase in
cost to consumers. Blending also reduces
the likelihood of the solvency, material
incompatibility, or cold weather problems
discussed below.
The simplest method is splash blending.
Biodiesel should always be poured on top
of petroleum diesel, since it is slightly
heavier. The two fuels will mix fairly well
as the biodiesel gradually sinks through
the lighter petrodiesel. Some form of agi-
tation is needed, though, to achieve highly
uniform fuel. Random samples of splash-
blended fuel being marketed as B20 have
been found to contain actual biodiesel
content ranging from B2 to B90.(4)
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 3

4. • Both petrodiesel and biodiesel can fuel tank before converting to biodiesel. An
cause metal parts to oxidize, so you alternative is to switch to finer fi lters. Any-
should replace any parts made of one using B100 should know how to change
brass, bronze, copper, lead, tin, or the fuel fi lter and should carry a spare fuel
zinc with aluminum or steel. fi lter or two. Expect to change your fuel fi l-
• If biodiesel or blended fuels are ter two or three times before all the deposits
stored beyond around six months, are cleaned out of your engine. If you are
fuel stabilizers should be added.(6) using a modest blend (B20 or lower), you
Old fuel will become acidic and are less likely to notice fi lter clogging.
form sediments and varnish.
• Biodiesel and biodiesel blends Issue #2: Reduced Power
should be stored at temperatures On average, B100 has about eight per-
at least 15 degrees above the pour cent less energy content (BTU per gallon)
point of the fuels.(7) The pour point than #2 petrodiesel, while B20 has one to
is the temperature below which a two percent less energy content.(8) If you
fuel will not pour. switch from standard diesel fuel to B100,
A
you may notice a slight decrease in horse-
nyone using • Outdoor tanks should be located in
power, torque, or fuel economy. At B20 or
B100 should cool shaded areas if possible.
less, you probably won’t be able to tell the
know how difference.
to change the fuel Caution: If you are storing large amounts of
fuel, or selling it commercially, you will need A cetane number is an indicator of diesel fuel
filter and should to take many additional precautions and meet quality, measuring the readiness of fuel to
carry a spare fuel local laws and code requirements. ignite when injected into the engine. Biodie-
filter or two. sel’s cetane number is higher than that of
standard diesel fuel, and this advantage may
partly compensate for its lower BTU content.
Issue #1: Solvent Effects Because biodiesel ignites more readily in
and Filter Clogging diesel engines than petrodiesel, some author-
ities recommend setting the injection timing
According to researchers at the University
back by two to three degrees from top-dead
of Idaho, filter plugging is the most common
center. This will sometimes cause the engine
problem experienced by biodiesel users.(4)
to run quieter, although it may also slightly
Biodiesel has excellent solvent properties reduce your power.(9)
and can be used as a cleaning agent and
paint remover. (It can remove the paint on Issue #3: Cold Weather
the side of your car or tractor, if you splash
it around while fi lling the tank.) In fact, it
Performance
can even dissolve concrete.(4) All diesel fuel, including petroleum-based
fuel, begins to gel at cold temperatures.
Petroleum diesel often leaves a deposit in The temperature at which a cloud of wax
the bottom of fuel lines, tanks, and deliv- crystals forms in the fuel is known as the
ery systems. Biodiesel can loosen and dis- cloud point. The cold filter plugging point
solve these sediments, as well as rust and is the lowest temperature at which fuel can
other materials. This causes fuel fi lters to be drawn through a metal screen fi lter.(10)
become clogged—sometimes in a matter of The pour point is the temperature below
hours after switching to B100. Symptoms of which a fuel will not pour.
fi lter clogging include a sudden power loss
In general, biodiesel gels at somewhat higher
or engine shuddering.
temperatures than conventional #2 diesel.
Older vehicles have more accumulated When wax crystals begin to form in biodie-
deposits, and are especially prone to fi lter sel, the entire fuel tends to cloud at the same
clogging. Ideally, you should clean an old time. In contrast, petroleum diesel is made
Page 4 ATTRA Biodiesel Use, Handling, and Fuel Quality

5. up of many different compounds that gel at since they will work on the petroleum-based
different temperatures. When some of these portion of the fuel.
begin to crystallize, others remain liquid to a
much lower temperature. Issue #4: Softening Fuel Lines
The cloud point for standard #2 diesel fuel Using a high-percentage biodiesel blend or
is around 5ºF. The cloud point for biodiesel B100 can cause certain types of elastomers
depends on the feedstock and the amount and natural rubber compounds to bubble,
of free fatty acids in the fuel. The cloud bleed, soften, and degrade over time. Virtu-
point for soy diesel is around 32ºF (4), ally all diesel vehicles made since the early
compared to cloud points around 20ºF for 1990s use components that are compatible
canola and 12ºF for rapeseed.(11) Biodie- with B100.(4) But some older fuel hoses will
sel made from used cooking grease or ani- need to be replaced.
mal fats will tend to cloud at higher tem-
peratures than biodiesel made from virgin Equipment changes are rarely if ever
oils. Biodiesel from the most highly satu- necessary with blends of B20 or lower.(8)
rated feedstocks may gel at temperatures as Besides rubber, other vulnerable materials
high as 50-55ºF. identified by the National Biodiesel Board
Low-percentage biodiesel blends generally include polypropylene, polyvinyl, and Tygon.
have cold weather properties similar to pet- Although there have been a few reports of
rodiesel. The cloud point of B20 may be degraded injection pump seals, by far the most
3º-10ºF higher than #2 petrodiesel.(8) common problem you are likely to encounter
is with rubber fuel lines. If you have an older
Simple cold weather precautions include vehicle, you should inspect your fuel lines
using engine block or fuel filter heaters frequently after you begin using biodiesel.
and parking vehicles in or near a build-
ing. Fuel additives can also inhibit crystal The good news is that these problems are
growth and gelling in standard diesel fuel. likely to appear gradually, if they appear
Anecdotal reports suggest that few if any at all. Hoses will begin to soften and (even-
of these products work well on B100. They tually) weep. You are unlikely to experience
may be effective on blended fuel, however, a catastrophic failure.
Case Study: vehicles, gradually expanding his usage seemed as if he needed to change fil-
Phil Foster Ranches as he became comfortable with the ters more often than normal. “Maybe
fuel’s performance. He also asked his the fuel was a tad off ... We’ll probably
Phil Foster began using biodiesel on his
supplier lots of questions about test- never know for sure.”
organic vegetable farm near San Juan
ing, standards, and feedstocks.
Bautista, California in 2004. He saw the Fuel economy may have decreased
use of non-petroleum fuels as consis- By 2006, biodiesel made up 81 percent slightly, in the range of three to five
tent with his philosophy as an organic of the roughly 20,000 gallons of diesel percent. There have also been a few
vegetable farmer. He liked the idea that fuel consumed annually by the farm’s cold mornings (18º - 20 ºF) when the
any fuel spills would be biodegradable tractors, pickups, and delivery trucks.
vehicles running on B100 would not
and far less toxic than standard diesel. Most of the farm’s diesel vehicles are
start. Switching temporarily to B30 dur-
He was attracted by the air quality now running B100, although with some
ing cold weather has solved this prob-
and health advantages for his family of his older equipment Phil has been
and his workers. And he liked the idea reluctant to go above B30. lem, and all vehicles have started fine
of purchasing fuel made from agricul- on B30.
Overall, Phil comments that “After four
tural products, preferably ones grown Phil recently bought a new truck, which
years of using biodiesel, we’ve had
locally or regionally. he plans to run on B30 for the first six to
very good results.” He did experience
Phil didn’t have the time or inclination some filter plugging when switching twelve months - enough time for any
to make his own fuel, so he began pur- to biodiesel, and he now changes his problems to show up. Once he’s confi-
chasing biodiesel from a local retailer. filters at every service. He also went dent in the vehicle’s performance, he’ll
Initially, he tried B100 in some of his through a period recently where it switch it over to B100.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 5

6. approved a standard specifically for biodie-
Biodiesel-Compatible Fuel Lines sel, ASTM D6751. This standard covers all
The following fuel lines are claimed by their manufacturers to be biodiesel fuels, regardless of feedstock or
B100-compatible (14): processing method.
• Goodyear part numbers 65148 thru 65153 & 65161 thru 65163 meet
SAE specification J30R9.
These legal requirements only apply to fuel
that is sold. Home brewers, cooperatives,
• Gates part number 4241G and 4241M for marine use.
and farms making fuel for their own use are
• Kuriyama part number A4143.
not required to meet ASTM D6751.
• NAPA fuel injection hose part H205.
• McMaster-Carr Viton rubber tubing part number 5119K51 ASTM testing must be done by qualified
(among many others). laboratories and requires expensive equip-
• Thomas Register listing of other Viton tubing suppliers. ment. The standards are listed in the table
on the following page.
Issue #5: Engine Oil Dilution
Case Study:
and Fuel Oxidation The Minnesota Biodiesel Mandate
In blends higher than B20, unburned In September 2005, Minnesota passed a
biodiesel can make its way past the piston law requiring all diesel fuel to contain two
rings and into the oil pan.(8) This happens percent biodiesel. Soon after the mandate
because biodiesel has a slightly higher vis- went into effect, Minnesota truckers began
cosity and density than standard diesel. to experience sporadic problems, includ-
Eventually, this fuel in the engine oil can ing trucks breaking down on the road, hefty
repair bills, and lost road time. The culprit
polymerize, causing oil sludge that coats was clogged fuel filters and it soon became
metal surfaces and causes moving parts to apparent that biodiesel was to blame.
stick.(4) If you are using biodiesel blends Cold weather gelling was found to be the
higher than B20, you may need to change main problem. In December 2005, the Min-
I
your engine oil more frequently. nesota Department of Commerce confirmed
n 2001, ASTM that some biodiesel producers had shipped
approved a biodiesel that did not meet ASTM D6751
Issue #6: Microbial Growth specification for free and total glycerin.(12)
standard specif- Water can sometimes drip through vents “There’s no room for poor-quality biodie-
ically for biodiesel, and collect at the bottom of fuel tanks. sel in the marketplace,” said Steve Howell,
ASTM D6751. Certain varieties of algae, yeast, and fungi technical director with the National Biodiesel
can grow at the interface of the fuel and Board. “Although investigations have indi-
water.(4) In order to prevent microbial cated that other factors unrelated to biodie-
sel may have led to at least some of the fil-
growth, you should drain any water from ter-plugging reports in Minnesota, there’s
the bottom of your fuel tank on a regular no question that off-specification biodiesel
basis. Certain biocides can also be added can have a severe reaction in cold weather,
to control microbial growth, but the dead even in low blends.”(13)
microbes may plug fi lters. All Minnesota biodiesel producers subse-
quently had to prove that their fuel met
ASTM specifications.(12) After imple-
ASTM Standards menting additional quality measures,
The American Society for Testing and the Department of Commerce reaffirmed
Materials (ASTM) is the industry organiza- the ruling that diesel fuel was required to
tion that defines legal fuel standards: mini- contain two percent biodiesel meeting
mum values that a fuel must meet to operate ASTM D6751 specifications.
safely in a compression ignition engine. Minnesota’s experience showed that even
a low-percentage of off-spec biodiesel—
All diesel engines sold in the U.S. are man- as low as two percent!—can cause perfor-
ufactured to meet ASTM D975, the legal mance problems .
standard for petrodiesel. In 2001, ASTM
Page 6 ATTRA Biodiesel Use, Handling, and Fuel Quality

7. Table 1: ASTM Standards
Property ASTM Method Limits Units
Calcium & Magnesium,
EN 14538 5 max ppm (ug/g)
combined
Flash Point (closed cup) D 93 93 min Degrees C
Alcohol Control
1. Methanol Content EN 14110 0.2 max % volume
2. Flash Point D 93 130 min Degrees C
Water & Sediment D 2709 0.05 max % volume
Kinematic Viscosity, 40 C D 445 1.9 – 6.0 mm2/sec
Sulfated Ash D 874 0.02 max % mass
Sulfur
S 15 Grade D 5453 0.0015 max (15) % mass (ppm)
S 500 Grade D 5453 0.05 max (500) % mass (ppm)
Copper Strip Corrosion D 130 No. 3 max
Cetane D 613 47 min
Cloud Point D 2500 Report Degrees C
Carbon Residue 100% Sample D 4530 0.05 max % mass
Acid Number D 664 0.50 max mg KOH/g
Free Glycerin D 6584 0.020 max % mass
Total Glycerin D 6584 0.240 max % mass
Phosphorus Content D 4951 0.001 max % mass
Distillation, T90 AET D 1160 360 max Degrees C
Sodium/Potassium, combined EN 14538 5 max ppm
Oxidation Stability EN14112 3 min hours
Adapted from The National Biodiesel Board, Specification For Biodiesel (B100) – ASTM D6751-07a.(15)
blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel
The BQ-9000 Program management practices.
The National Biodiesel Board has insti-
tuted a cooperative and voluntary quality Any biodiesel producer, marketer or
assurance program called BQ-9000. The distributor of biodiesel or biodiesel blends
program was developed to ensure a more in the U.S. or Canada is eligible for pro-
consistent quality for biodiesel being pro- gram accreditation. Accredited manufactur-
duced, marketed, and used. While ASTM ers and certified marketers under this pro-
standards only cover fuel quality, BQ-9000 gram are listed on the BQ-9000 website,
encompasses storage, sampling, testing, www.bq-9000.com.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 7

8. It’s certainly true that bad quality biodie-
Are You Sure Your Fuel Is Meeting ASTM Standards? sel can cause performance problems that
A study released in November 2006 suggests that inconsistent fuel are not the fault of the engine maker and
quality continues to be a real issue for the US biodiesel industry— so are not covered by the warranty. These
despite the legal requirement that commercial fuel must meet ASTM situations are no different from ones where
standards. a problem has been caused by bad quality
Co-funded by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and the National
petroleum diesel or gasoline.
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the study randomly collected Engine manufacturers would generally refer
biodiesel samples from 32 fuel distributors around the country between any customer with fuel-related problems to
November 2005 and July 2006.
the fuel supplier. According to the National
Half of the samples failed to meet at least one of the ASTM D6751 Biodiesel Board, any reputable fuel supplier
specifications, and some samples failed multiple standards. Thirty (petrodiesel, biodiesel, or blend) should
percent of the samples failed to meet the flash point standard, and stand behind its product and cover any fuel
one-third of the samples failed to meet the total glycerin standard.(18)
quality problems that occur.(16)
Biodiesel sold in the U.S. is subject to qual-
ity requirements that are just as strict as
Will Biodiesel Void My those for standard diesel fuel. You are on
Warranty? strong legal ground in using ASTM-compli-
ant biodiesel fuel—just as you would be in
Many farms and ranches are discouraged
using ASTM-compliant petroleum diesel.
from using biodiesel, especially in newer
Unfortunately, though, your strong legal
vehicles, because of fears that they will
position does not guarantee that you will be
“void their warranties.”
free from warranty-related hassles. Some
It’s a good idea to check with your vehicle equipment dealers are still poorly informed
manufacturer to see if they have an official and will caution customers against using
policy on the use of biodiesel. Most major biodiesel, since they (mistakenly) regard it
engine companies have formally stated that as unregulated or unreliable.
biodiesel blends below 20 percent that meet
ASTM D6751 will not void their engine
warranties. Caterpillar -
Biodiesel Use Statement
The National Biodiesel Board has posted on “Caterpillar neither approves nor prohibits use
its website several statements from engine of biodiesel fuels. Caterpillar is not in a position
companies (www.biodiesel.org). John Deere, to evaluate the many variations of biodiesel and
Caterpillar, and New Holland are among the long term effects on performance, durabil-
the many companies that have adopted pol- ity, or compliance to emissions standards for
icies supportive of biodiesel. Other compa- Caterpillar products. The use of biodiesel fuel
does not affect Caterpillar’s materials and work-
nies are in the process of developing guide- manship. Failures that result from the use of any
lines for biodiesel. fuel are not Caterpillar factory defects. There-
A number of authorities state fl atly that fore, the cost or repair would NOT be covered
by a Caterpillar’s warranty.”(17)
the use of biodiesel does not, in itself, void
engine warranties. [See, for example, (1) Caterpillar Commercial Diesel Engine Fluids
and (2)] Engine warranties typically cover Recommendations
the “materials and workmanship” of the SEBU6251-08 March 2004
engine, and say little or nothing about fuel.
Page 8 ATTRA Biodiesel Use, Handling, and Fuel Quality

9. How Can I Be Sure I’m
Getting Good Fuel?
It’s important to keep the issue of poor qual-
Photo: www.biodieselcommunity.org
ity, off-spec fuel in perspective: The vast
majority of biodiesel consumers experience
no fuel-related problems whatsoever. There
is also (unfortunately) off-spec gasoline and
diesel fuel in the marketplace too.
To reduce your chances of buying off-spec
biodiesel, get to know your dealer and ask
questions. How long have they been in busi-
pHLip test results, showing fuel quality problems.
ness? What feedstocks are used? What are
the cold weather characteristics of the fuel?
How frequently is the fuel tested for ASTM
compliance? Are your manufacturer and While most of these are mainly of interest
marketer BQ-9000 accredited? to biodiesel fuel makers, some are within
the capability of technically minded fuel
Don’t assume that bigger companies are consumers, too.
necessarily better. Many small producers
take pride in making excellent fuel, and Conclusion
some large producers have been known to
make bad batches. Biodiesel users should take some basic pre-
cautions to avoid performance problems:
• Perform regular maintenance, check
Do-It-Yourself Fuel fuel fi lters frequently, and change
Quality Testing them as necessary.
You can mail a sample of fuel to a labora- • Understand biodiesel’s cold weather
tory for comprehensive ASTM testing, but properties and take appropriate
the price tag is likely to be a hefty $800 precautions.
to $1,000 or more. Fortunately, there are
some inexpensive alternatives for consum- • Be aware of biodiesel’s incompat-
ers and fuel makers. ibility with certain materials and
replace any incompatible parts,
Dr. Randall von Wedel has developed a sim- especially rubber fuel lines.
ple testing kit called the pHLip (pronounced • Regularly drain water from the
“fl ip”) Test. You fi ll a vial with B100 to bottom of fuel tanks, to prevent
the indicated level, then fl ip the sample 10 microbial growth.
times and wait 10 minutes for the fuel to
float to the top. Through visual inspection • Use stored biodiesel within about
you can identify a variety of fuel quality six months.
problems, including old, poorly washed, or • Make sure that fuel meets ASTM
oxidized fuel. The kits are NOT a substitute D6751.
for ASTM testing and standards, but cost • Incorporate biodiesel into farming
only around $5 per test and allow quick in- operations gradually. Start slowly
the-field testing. For more information, visit and expand your use of the fuel as
www.phliptest.com. you gain confidence.
Several simple fuel quality tests are also • Make sure your biodiesel comes
described on the Journey to Forever site, at from a reputable source. Get to
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_vehicle. know your fuel provider and ask
html. These include the “wash test,” “repro- questions about feedstocks and
cessing test,” “methanol test,” and others. quality testing.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 9

10. References 10. Anon. No Date. Background. National Biodiesel
Board. Retrieved May 10, 2007. www.biodie-
1. Pahl, Greg. 2005. Biodiesel: Growing a New sel.org/pdf _ files/fuelfactsheets/Cold%20Flow.pdf
Energy Economy. White River Junction, VT: 11. Brown, Jack and Jim Davis. January 31, 2007.
Chelsea Green Publishing Company. “Agronomics of Oil Seed Crops in the Pacific
2. Clean Cities. 2006. “Straight Vegetable Oil as a Northwest.” Biodiesel in the Pacific Northwest
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11. Notes
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12. Biodiesel Use, Handling, and Fuel Quality
By Andrew Pressman and Mike Morris
NCAT Energy Specialists
© 2007 NCAT
This publication is available on the Web at:
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